Trailer brake



C. BUCKEL TRAILER BRAKE Feb. l2, 1946.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 16, 1944 luren ta l c. BUCKEI.

Feb. 12, 1946.

TRAILER BRAKE Filed 001'.. 16, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 RAW.

WW Nk..

Mmm. Mw

lllll E uw HMMS Patented Feb. 12,

UNITED STATE SL PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to a trailer brake and more particularly to such a brake adapted to be operated by the momentum of the trailer when the towing car is braked.

A primary object of this invention is the pro- V vision of an improved trailer brake actuated automatically by the forward momentum of the trailer, to apply the brakes to the trailer `simultaneously with the application of the brakes to the towing vehicle.

An additional object is the provision in association with such a trailer brake of a manual hand brake adapted to be operated independently ofl the automatic brake feature.

A still further object is the provision in such a device of means for rendering the automatic brake inoperative under desired circumstances, as when thetrailer is being backed.

A still further object is the provision of im.. proved means whereby\the operation of the hand brake will not act to disalign the parts comprising the automatic braking system.

Still further objects reside in the arrangements of parts, combinations of lements, and features of construction, all as willbe more fully pointed out hereinafter and shown in the accompanying drawings. wherein there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of one form of device embodying features of this invention.

Figure 2 is a top elevational view of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view ltaken substantially along the'line 3--3/o'f Figure 2.

Figure 4'is an enlarged perspective detail view of one constructional' element of the device.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 5'5 'of Figure 3 as viewed in the direction indicatedby the arrows,

and

Figure 6 is an enlarged perspective view of an additional constructional detail.

Like reference numerals refer to like part throughout the several views of the drawings.

Having reference now to the drawings, there is shown at I a trailer vtongue of hollow construction which may be either rectangular or circular in cross-sectional conguratiomand from one end of which extends an extremity of a towing rod II having a suitable socket joint .I2 adapted to be engaged with a ball I3 alxed in any suitable manner to a portion I4 of a towing vehicle. Positioned within an extremity of tongue I0 is, as best shown in Figure 3, a sleeve comprised of a block I of a configuration adapted'to conform closely to the interior of tongue I0 and secured in position as by anchor bolts I6 passed through suitable apertures in tongue I0 and a third horizontal anchor bolt I'I passed through a depending tongue I8 secured to the extremity of sleeve I5 and engaging in a threaded aperture in a depending lug I9 secured to trailer tongue I0. The interior of sleeve I5 is provided with a transverse bore 2l!v into which an end of rod II is adapted to extend, the same being freely slidable therein. A towing stop 2l is fixedly secured to the end of rod II interiorly of sleeve body I5, and is adapted by its abutment with the inner end of sleeve body I5 to permit the trailer to be towed by rod II.

Likewise, `the interior end of rod II is provided with a bore or recess within which is adapted to be positioned one end of a push rod 26, the same being freely slidable therein for a purpose to be` described hereinafter. The other end of rod 26 is threadedly secured to a member 2'I having a socket'28 therein adapted to engage a ball 29 toform a ball and socket connection, with an actuating lever 30. Actuating rod 30 is, as best shown in Figures 4 and 5, comprised of atransverse portion and an angularly disposed portion 3| adapted to extend outwardly of trailer tongue I0 as through a suitable slot 32 (see Figure 1),

' and has oneA extremity suitably secured as by a 30 pivot pin 33, to a bracket 34 extending from a flange 35 secured to the side of trailer tongue Ill.

An intermediate portion of angularly disposed portion 32 is pivotally secured as by a pivot 36 l to a bracket 3l secured to the end of the actuating rod-38 of a master brake cylinder 39 suitably secured to flange 35.

A second flangeAI) is likewise secured to the side wall trailer tongue Ill and has an aperture tongue' to ride forwardly along rod Il, the samesliding in bore 20 and that such forward movement occasions, through ball and socket joint 28-29, a movement of lever 30 transversely through slot 32 which, in turn, exerts pressure on actuating rod 38 t0 apply pressure to the trailer brakesthrough master brake cylinder 39. It will also be seen that the tension of spring 43 is sumcient, as set by adjusting nut 42 to preclude the actuating of the trailer brakes by normal gradual deceleration of the towing vehicle, such application being effected only when there is a comparatively sudden deceleration such as would normally be occasioned by the application of the brakes of a towing vehicle.

Suitable means are also provided for actuating the trailer brake mechanism manually when desired. Such means -take the form of an actuating rod 50 slidably mounted in a sleeve or cylinder 5| secured to the side of the trailer tongue I0, the end of the rod being positioned normally in abutting relation with a portion of actuating lever 30 adjacent slot 32. The opposite end of rod 60 is pivotally secured as by a pivot pin 52 to a rod 53 which, in turn, is pivotally secured to an actuating handle or brake lever 54'pivoted as at 55 to a conventional quadrant 56, means being provided in conventional manner for latching lever 54.in any desired position of adjustment. It will now be seen that movement of brake lever 5l in a clockwise direction moves the end of brake actuating rod 50 inwardly to force lever 3l and hence brake rod 38 inwardly with respect to` master brake cylinder 39 thus effectively setting the brakes. It may here be pointed out that the free movement of the end of rod 26 in bore 25, permits this latter operation to be effected without any undue exertion of force, such as might otherwise be required to move either the trailer or the towing vehicle were this connection fixed.

It may also be pointed out that adjusting means comprising a locking bolt 60 extending through suitable projecting lugs 6l in member 21 are provided to permit the suitable positioning of the threaded end of rod 26 to allow the requisite n amount of play of the opposite end thereof in bore 25.

When it is desired to back the trailer, or for other reasons to render the automatic braking system inoperative, suitable means are provided to preclude such operation, such means taking the form of a pin 65 adapted to be passed through a suitable aperture 66 in rod Il exteriorly of the of tongue I0 and sleeve l5 into communication with bore 20 to provide suitable lubricant for the movement of rod H therein.

Now'from the foregoing it will be seen that there is herein provided a trailer brake accom-- plishing all the objects of this invention and others including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modiiications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore described and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, in combination, a trailer tongue, a brake cylinder secured thereto, a sleeve in ^said tongue, a rod slidable in said sleeve, said rod having an end adapted to be secured to a towing vehicle, means including a second rod and a lever pivotally secured thereto, operable by the momentum of said trailer and actuated by said rod for operating said brake cylinder, auxiliary, manually operable means for actuating said brake cylinder, and means permitting operation of said last-mentioned means without movement of said rod, said last-mentioned means comprising a sliding con-` nection between said first and second rods. f

2. In a device of the character described, in combination, a trailer tongue, a brake cylinder secured thereto, a sleeve in said tongue, a rod slidable in said sleeve, said rod having an end adapted to be secured to a towing vehicle, means including a second rod and a lever pivotally secured thereto, operable by the momentum of said trailer and actuated by said rod for operating said brake cylinder, auxiliary, manually operable means for actuating said brake cylinder, and means permitting operation of said last mentioned means without movement of said rod, said last-mentioned means comprising a sliding connection between said rst and second rods, and means for locking said first-mentioned rod in inoperative position to preclude operation of the Abrake cylinder by the momentum of said trailer.

3. In a device of the character described, in combination, a trailer tongue, a brake cylinder secured thereto, a sleeve in said tongue, a rod slidable in said sleeve, said rod having an end adapted to be securedto a towing vehicle, means including a second rod and a lever pivotally secured thereto, operable bythe momentum of said trailer and actuated by said rod for operating said brake. cylinder, and means permitting relative adjustment of the connection between said second rod and said lever to vary the effective length of said second rod, auxiliary, manually operable means for actuating said brake cylinder, and means permitting operation of said last-mentioned means comprising a sliding connection between said first and second rods.

CHARLES BUCKEL. 

